Pursue Your Ambition with Unwavering Dedication: UGC NET English Topper Kunal Kashyap

University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test 2026 ( UGC NET )

Swayam
Swayam Gupta
Associate Senior Executive
Updated on Aug 10, 2023 17:06 IST
Kishore Kunal Kashyap shares his preparation strategy and success story with Shiksha. The upcoming aspirants can read the article to get motivation and a proper preparation strategy from a topper. Check the preparation tips to crack UGC NET in first attempt with proper guidance of a topper.

Kishor Kunal Kashyap, UGC NET English topper shared his preparation strategy and success story with Shiksha. Read the complete interview to know about the preparation strategy and tips to crack UGC NET exam.

UGC NET exam, UGC NET interview, english literature, UGC NET 2023 English Literature

UGC NET English Topper

 

Meet Kishor Kunal Kashyap, who is a testament to true hard work and dedication. Kunal switched to English Literature as a Master's after his graduation in Physics honors due to his interest and love for literature. After completing his master's Kunal decided to take one of the toughest and sought exams in India, UGC NET. Kunal was unable to take any coaching classes or hire a private tutor for the preparation.He started off by setting a rigorous study schedule for himself which included hours of devotion to self-study.

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On the day of the exam, Kunal was confident and well-prepared. He tackled questions with ease, drawing upon her extensive knowledge and training and when the results were announced, Kunal's hard work and determination paid off. This was a proud moment for Kunal and his family, and it was well-deserved recognition. 

Q:   When should I start preparing for UGC NET exam?
A:
The ideal time to start preparing for the UGC NET exam varies from person to person and depends on several factors such as your familiarity with the subject, the level of understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, and the amount of time and effort you can devote to the preparation. However, as a general guideline, it is recommended that you start preparing for the exam at least 6-8 months before the exam date. This will give you sufficient time to cover the entire syllabus, revise the important topics, solve mock tests and previous year papers, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you are already familiar with the subject and have a good understanding of the topics covered in the syllabus, you can start preparing for the exam 3-4 months before the exam date. However, if you are new to the subject or need to improve your understanding of the topics, you may need to start preparing earlier. It is important to note that the UGC NET exam is a highly competitive exam, and the level of competition is increasing every year. Therefore, it is important to start preparing early and stay consistent with your preparation. With a focused approach and consistent effort, you can increase your chances of qualifying for the UGC NET exam.
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The candidates preparing for UGC NET can go through the interview with Twinkle to get the UGC NET preparation strategy and tips to crack the exam.

Tell us something about your background?

- Kishor Kunal Kashyap is my name. After finishing my degree in science, I decided to major in literature. My interest in literature led me to get a master's degree in the subject from Central University, where I also qualified for the National Eligibility Test (NET) with a score of 98.99 percent. My study involves looking at the tale of Sita from new angles i.e. Myth and Literature.

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Why you’ve chosen this exam? Which other exams did you appear in and which you have been able to crack?

- I've always wanted to help others learn through teaching, and passing the UGC NET test is one of the prerequisites. I decided to take the test since I'm fascinated by the study area. I have appeared for the NDA, SSC, BPSC(Lecturer) and qualified for the preliminary stage

Also Read: UGC NET Topper English Sucess Story and Preparation Tips 

How much time did you prepare for the NET? Did you crack it in the first attempt? 

- I dedicated 6 months to preparing for the exam. It was my first attempt and yes, I cracked it also, consecutively cleared in December too. Twice a year.

Tell us about the challenges you faced while preparing for the exam.

- There is a variety of information and resources, and the curriculum covers a vast amount of ground because of recent additions. The biggest obstacles are managing time effectively and finishing all the course material.

Did you take any coaching for the exam? If yes, from where and for how long? If not, how you managed to do self-study?

- I decided against enrolling in a prep course. I learned a lot from the many videos available on YouTube that assisted me in passing the exam. With the aid of the videos and books, I compiled my own notes, which proved to be quite useful. To pass the test, you must practice using questions from the previous year.

How to prepare for UGC NET exam? Tell us the strategy you applied to prepare for the exam.

- Read as much as you can from the PYQs. The only way to really grasp the pattern is via repeated application. Knowing how much time should be spent on each unit requires familiarity with the course outline. Each of the two papers is worth 10 units. Paper 1 is a prerequisite that must be passed before moving on to Paper 2. Common sense and the basics are covered in Paper 1. An informative book would be very useful. You have three hours to complete 150 questions on a test, so time management is crucial. Time-consuming components of Paper 1 include mathematical and logical reasoning, and data analysis.

Also Read: Succes Story of Komal Sharma (UGC NET Topper Political Science)

Tell us about the UGC NET study routine?

- Regularly engaging in the practice of multiple-choice questions and developing a comprehensive comprehension of the underlying ideas hold significant importance. A daily practice duration of 6 to 7 hours would likely prove to be enough.

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What should be the section-wise preparation strategy?

- Spend your time wisely considering your abilities and limitations. You may save time by skimming through the material you already know well. When it comes to the unfamiliar material, take the time to read it through and take notes.

Can you refer to some good books for UGC NET preparation?

- I can't say that about the books but the books best worked for me are:

  • Routledge by Ronal Carter, William j long
  • Beginning Theory by Peter Bary, An Introduction to Cultural Studies. Pramod K. Nayar
  • Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory
  • Book by Pramod K Nayar
  • R Gupta’s Pyqs 

What according to you were the easiest and toughest sections?

- All of Paper 1 was unfamiliar to me, making it difficult to figure out how to study for it. While I knew some of the material in Paper 2, there was a lot that I didn't know. It was challenging for me to remember and study the material on cultural studies and literary theory that was included. Data interpretation, logical thinking, and mathematical reasoning were not difficult for me.

How you tackled your strong and weak areas?

- Since it's not a good idea to try to learn anything new or challenging just before an exam, I had a decent grasp of the topics in my weak areas from the minute I began studying. One month before the test, one should sit down with a stopwatch to practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs) following the exam's format. 

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After clearing the exam, how can anyone find a job?

- If you pass the test, you may go on to JRF's PhD programme. Aspirants may be mentored. One may work as an assistant professor or a research fellow depending on their area of expertise.

What are your hobbies? Did you attribute it to the preparation?

- I like poetry writing, reading, and taking on difficult new experiences. I credit my success to my doggedness and willingness to take risks.

Read More: Shivani Karn UGC NET English Literature Topper Interview

About the Author
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Swayam Gupta
Associate Senior Executive

Law Education & Competitive Exams Content Specialist

Role: Senior Content Writer, Shiksha.com

Swayam writes content specializing in the law education and competitive exams domain, with around two year of experience

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Answered 3 days ago

After clearing the UGC NET exam, candidates have lot of opportunities to give their best in the research perspective. They can become assistant professor, pursue lectureship or get JRF. They can start working on their Ph.D. They can also set up their laboratory and recruit people for work. They can

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Shikha Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

The UGC NET 2026 June session result will be released after the conduction of an exam. It is expected that it will be declared in the last week of July or first week of August 2026. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chanchal Shekhar

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

It is important to understand the core concept of the subject while preparing for the UGC NET exam. Generally, around 6 months with dedicated hard work is sufficient to crack the UGC NET exam as per the experts. It is also recommended to study for around three to four hours daily. Consistent revisio

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Manisha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

The overall difficulty level of the UGC NET exam vary as per the subject and from one exam cycle to another. In General as per the subject expert, the overall difficulty level of the UGC NET exam is considered to be of moderate level. The exam test the candidates knowledge, comprehension, analytical

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Satyendra Garg

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

UGC NET is conducted at national level by the National Testing Agency for those candidates who want to become assistant professor or researcher. It is important for a candidate to meet the eligibility criteria including the education qualification, age limits, etc. which vary depending on whether th

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Ishita Kaur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

The UGC NET exam has two papers namely Paper 1 and Paper 2. The duration of an exam is three hours. Paper 1 is common for all the candidates and Paper 2 is subject-specific. In Paper 1, total questions asked are 50 and in Paper 2, total questions asked are 100. Questions asked in the form of MCQs. P

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Shikha Goyal

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Answered 3 days ago

The UGC NET June session 2026 exam date has not been released yet. It will be announced along with the notification. The NTA conducts the UGC NET exam in two sessions, namely June and December.

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Virajita Shukla

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 days ago

No the registrations for the UGC NET are not open for MDSU Ajmer PhD admissions for the academic year 2026. The December session of UGC NET for 2026 admissions is already over.

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Saurabh Khanduri

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Answered 4 days ago

Yes, UGC-NET is a mandatory entrance exam for MDSU Ajmer PhD admissions. All candidates who are eligible for MDSU Ajmer PhD course must appear for the UGC-NET as well as participate in the interview round to gain admissions. The selection of candidates will be based on their UGC-NET score.

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Saurabh Khanduri

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Answered a week ago

No, UGC NET is not a mandatory entrance exam for NIT Srinagar PhD admissions. Candidates can also appear in the GATE as well to qualify for admissions to the NIT Srinagar PhD course.

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